Harry

Harry Cardenez is the founder and sole director of Cardenez Electronics, the adoptive father of Numba, and the experienced businessman who turns an auction acquaintance with the Howlers into a long-term partnership. His financial organization helps the gang convert territorial victories into stable companies, jobs, and Slough's reconstruction.

Biography

A partnership formed under pressure

Harry meets Kai at the Dark Guild auction while seeking connections beyond his Tier-3 home. He recognizes that the Howlers need outside investment and offers to work with them rather than Slough's mayor, beginning a relationship based on mutual expansion. His next attempt to enter Notsburg exposes the limit of ordinary business negotiations under gang rule: Slith demands control of Cardenez Electronics, and Harry refuses to surrender the company he built from nothing even when the Scatterbugs retaliate against his factories. The refusal protects his independence but leaves his staff and Numba under escalating pressure. (Chapters 452, 489–525)

The Howlers intervene through their connection with Numba, defeat the Scatterbugs, and make Harry an equal partner in the captured Notsburg businesses. Harry responds by using lawyers, corporate records, and his own organization to regularize the transfer rather than treating the victory as a one-time rescue. He helps the city evacuate the casino, builds factories in Notsburg and Slough, and becomes the experienced adviser Kai can trust with decisions that previously fell on a handful of teenagers. The alliance preserves Harry's company while giving the Howlers legitimate infrastructure and a leader capable of converting seized wealth into sustained growth. (Chapters 512–613)

Managing the Howlers' expansion

Harry and his team later handle most of the Howlers' business proposals, outside partnerships, property investments, and financial crises while Kai retains final authority. Cardenez Electronics expands by identifying promising technologies and acquiring or partnering with smaller companies, and its public support helps attract investment to rebuilt Slough after the Phoenix war. Harry also provides practical strategic advice—Kai adapts his road-funneling tactic during Slough's defense—and acts as a trusted intermediary when other companies need to reach the secretive gang. His latest mentions leave him alive at the head of a growing company whose fortunes are tied to the Howlers but whose management remains his expertise. (Chapters 598–975)

Appearance and personality

Harry is an older, well-dressed man with a large stomach that his shirt and blazer only partly conceal. He travels with bodyguards and presents himself politely even among criminals. (Chapter 452)

He is serious, disciplined, and intensely protective of what he has built. Harry rarely shows fear or anger in negotiations, though attempts to seize his company provoke him. With Numba he combines strict expectations and hired tutors with warmth, humor, and concern that his son learn rather than merely inherit.

Powers and abilities

Harry is an ordinary human with no demonstrated Altered transformation, werewolf power, Qi, or supernatural ability.

Business strategy and negotiation

Harry builds Cardenez Electronics from scratch, studies markets and gang influence before expanding, negotiates ownership terms under pressure, and recognizes technology trends early enough to acquire promising companies. He also organizes specialists capable of handling deeds, corporate transfers, investments, and public partnerships after violent takeovers. His methods require capital, staff, and protection; when the Scatterbugs coordinate attacks across several sites, his commercial skill cannot by itself defend every factory. (Chapters 452, 489–613, 699, 961)

Organizational and defensive planning

Harry unifies the separate gangs of his home city into the paid Freaks, using money and shared prosperity to replace constant competition with a security force. He teaches practical methods such as using blocked roads to funnel attackers and maintains enough corporate logistics to supply vehicles, a helicopter, factories, and intercity contacts. These resources belong to his organization rather than representing personal combat power, and he relies on the Freaks and Howlers when violence exceeds ordinary security. (Chapters 489–570, 769–825)

Relationships

Numba

Numba is Harry's adopted son and intended business pupil. Harry hires tutors, takes him to negotiations, and tries to keep him from unnecessary bloodshed. Numba's fear of being abandoned gradually gives way to loyalty strong enough that an attack on Harry's company becomes personal.

Kai and the Howlers

Kai first sees Harry as a useful investor, then comes to trust him with most financial decisions and crisis management. Harry gains protection and expansion opportunities, while the Howlers gain legitimacy, expertise, and a partner willing to rebuild communities instead of extracting short-term profit.

Items

Harry controls company vehicles, factories, records, and other Cardenez Electronics assets, but the corpus does not establish them as his personal signature possessions. He has no finalized notable item in the supplied inventory.